Adapter for mounting machine guns



Aug. 3, 1943. F. M. sALlsBURY ADAPTER FOR MOUNTING MACHINE GUNS original Filed Jan. 2o, 195s 2 Shes 15s-Sheet l w MN MN III 1| Fh i l@ W N l.

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Aug. 3, M243, F. M. SALISBURY ADAPTER FOR MOUNTING MACHINE GUNS 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 original Filed Jan. 2o

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'up the shock of the recoiloof thegun,

iiainpeners, a type the loutside dimensions of Ressued Aug. 3, 1943 n ,UNITED STATE AnAr'rEn Fon MOUNTING MACHINE GUNSv` -Frank M. Salisbury, Kenmore, N, Y., assigner to Buffalo, N. Y., a corporae Bell AircraftV Corp., tion of New Yori;V

original No. 2,261,526,

185,974, January February 19, 1942, Serial No.

Serial No. tion for reissue 431,606

This invention relates tomounting, machine 811118, and mre particularly to an adapter, vthe f rame fwhich is so constructed that small hydraulic 'shock dampeners may be eiliciently used to absorb the recoil without materially increasing the 'Siae o'r weight of the assembled gun,

dated 'November 4, 1941,

s claims. v(ci. seasviv Y Figure is a view taken along line 5*-5 ofvfe'ig-` At the present time, the energy exerted bythe recoil of the gun is usually dissipated bythe luse of spring dampeners, although Ahydraulic damp- 'eiers have also been used. To adequately take bothjthe spring and'hydraulic dampeners, that are. vnowr 'in use, be of such a large size that a heavy cumbersome frame must be provided thus adding materially tothe weight of the assembled gun. Furthermore, because of the size of these shock of frame which is too large to be 'used in cramped quarters'is required.

Many of these shock dampeners also require the grips of the gun to be placed at a considerable distance from each other. This' wide spacing'ofv the gun grips prevents trained gunne'rs from getting the ieel of the gun.

one of the objects of this" invention is to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages Aof the priorv art. 1 Y l' Still another object of this invention is toprovide an adapter for a machine gunwhich is provided with a frame in which'the gun may move, l which are Only slightly greater than the dimensions of, the'gun itself. e ',Yet another object of this invention istcprovide a frame for a machinev gun in' which itmaY move to permit the eflicient operation ofthe hydraulic shock dampeners with which the frame is provided.' .Y i A further object yof this invention isto provide a machine gunl adapter plateY of thegim in locked position by meansof a vbac'zl:l plate detachably mounted on the .frame ofthe adapter, thereby eliminating theuseof a secondary latch.- Y. ,l .y

Yet another object o f this invention is to vpro vide a iframe fora machine gun having theleast possible weight. Y

In the drawings:

.-,Figure 1 is a`side lelevational view showing a.

machinegun mountedv in operative -position in the frame.l Y y Figure 2 is a bottom plan view partly in section. Figure 3 is atop plan view of the rear portion oithemachine gun. Y l I Figure 4 is a view taken along line-'4 4 of Figure-3 llooking inthe direction ofthe arrows.

wnienjnoids the ioaekV Ato the mechanism of the gun.

' sists of a reciprocating gun,

20, 1938. Applicaure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows".z

Figure'is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. This invention consists ofl a'mmachine gun adapter, the frame of which is 'constructed ofa light material and 'is only slightly wider than the gun'its'elf. 'The light construction 'of vthis frame is possible because the forward mounting of the machine gun is directly attached to a pair of very eflcient hydraulicv shock dampeners Which'so minimize the recoil shock O'f the gun thatV heavy mounting is no longer necessary. These shock dampeners are so-carried'by the hollow tubing frame that the dimensions of this adapter are reduced-to a minimum. l ADetachably mounted on the frame is a back plate, which carries a pair of handles to operate the gun, fand a trigger actuating mechanism. This back plate is so formed and positioned in such a manneras to hold' the back plate or the gun locked withoutthe use' of additionallatchesp Ths'rnethod of attaching the back plate t'o the frame enables the operator to have easy access Because of the novelconstruction outlined above, this Vadapter permits accurate aiming and firing of the gun. This construction also permits the gun to be mounted on any type of iixed or flexible mounting. Furthermore, due to the 'dimensions of the frame, the gunfmay be' used in cramped quarters such asv encountered in airplane construction. A Y

As shown in the drawings, this invention congenerally designated by the numeral I, which may be of any suitable type, but a caliber aircraftgun is shown here for purposes pf illustration. This machine gun is providedwith an adapter generally designated by the numeral 2, which consists of a frame 3, a back plate 4, and a pair of hydraulic shock dampeners 5.

The frame ,.3 consists of a pair of horizontally extending parallel tubes 6 and 1. Partly inserted in the open end of tube 6 is the cylinder 8 of the shock dampener 5 which is rigidly attached to the tube 6in any suitable manner, such as thenut and bolt arrangement shown atl 9.

The tube 6 is also slotted near its end as at I0 and is provided with ears Il 0n either side of this slot. By'means of a nut and bolt l2, the ears are drawn together thereby tightening thisportion of the tube 6 securely around theV cylinder The shock--dampener 5 is provided with axplug I3 which maybe 'removed t0 fill 'the device with y oil. 'The cylinder 8 `und which` are provided with slots IIJ portion of which is `the gun. `It

. roller 48andfasfthe guniires` the also carries a piston I4 which terminates in an eye I5.

The tube 1" isr similar to. .tube 6 and carries` members ywhich are similar to the ones just described, to whichrare attached identical numerals except that they are primed. i

The gun l Is'provided with a forward-mounting n lug I6 to which is attached thepiston rods I4 andA means I4', of the hydraulic shock dampeners 5 by I1 which `extends through the eyes I5 fof and I' and the `forward mountlngflug I5 o1' thel The gun I is also provided with a rear mount which consists of a paire! lugs IB..

v Mounted on'the tubesfli and"1are downwardly` extendingslide tracks I9 and I9' which maybe attached to the tubes in `any suitablemannar,

best shownvinFigure 6, the slots to slide in the said slide tracks.

`.which also y.passes lthrough transverse :tube ,31.1 4 y 1 y v ,tubelI is a ribbedbackplate `35, inthe center a tube 36 a .closed end 31..y The ybaci: plate is supportedat its top by means of. extensions 38 which are.rigidlysecured tathe top portionsof the handlesand respectively. The-tube ,'Iliy housesand serves .as a guard or shield for against;` the gun buil'et jects rearwardly from y which ymoves withy the gunrelatively to the frame. Tinus-the hands of extensian 4I which pmmentcot the gun and the buffer extension-lextending rearwardly therefrom.= .v l .Pivctlly' attached tothe plate. 35 as at 243v ho cupy virtually the eonventiohaltliger. post- H isatrgger 44. trigger .is adapted.`

to actuateapivoted lever which in turnactufare @needed bifimeahsfaf Attachedto the tra:isverllsev I protecting the operator tneb.s.t :k pla- 42] and ahdIULL. and 21| carry lrvf flanged slide blocks 22 andZZ which `are adapted 'Ihe gunis at .tacked tothe slideblockslz 9.111122' by means of y a bei: 2s.

the cperatoryareiprotected f against 1 injury? .duel tcl the reciprocating move-y stes the releasemechanism, designated, VVtra .lire

is', of course, f understood that.; Vclue tothe-recoil `i'llatlve movement between the backplate 35 n whichk nwtrigger 44 is attached, and the l to which the lever is attached. To

f friction between the trigger andlever, there is 43. Themdlcr.

provided a'. of rollers 4J `and- 4l-is'attached to theftrigger 44 the miler 4I!I attached to. the back. plate 35 immediately lever 45 recipe-o.-v cates between these rollers with afminlmuin `of frictionKA z As best shown 'in Figure 5, the adapter 2 is pivotally Amounted on, a'yoke 5l!l by 'offftwo f gussets 5I and 5I"-whic`h,are carriedbytheltubes Sand J respectively. gussetsvare so lo Vcateiivonl the frame)y thatthegun isfwellball.- anced'for operation; theyoke members 5Ilfter`- minate in any; device .A In operation, .therecoilof the gun?! Adrives piston rods( nl and" .14" munie onehalf an inch,` and the sldeblocksl. and 22 also travel rearwardly the sem; the..v

suitable for enabling the" 1 gun to'fbe easily rotatedsuch as "the callary 54 `Wvlzlichi itvmay be .attached to agunm'ount.

whenthe gun isfired, thereA will be be readily f As ltlieallapter 'materially reduces the quickly dismounted or access kto the breech may be quickly and, easily had .by removing theV Wing nuts 29 which secure the Yhandles to the hollow tubes 61 and 1.

' Fromtheabove description, it is obvious that I` have providedjan adapter for a. machine'gun `'Irhldi is d unusually light-construction', and the partsof which areso arrangedv that the external vdimensions have been reduced to aminimum. The construction of the handles and the back also been arranged so that theycan removed, and the interior of the'gun previously mentioned, the con- The gun may be weight ofthe-assembled gun,l and its` small overally dimension;

craft. By placing small shock dampenersal;` n iront of and close to the gun, thereisfno cumbersome structure on the rear of the gun to interfere with itsoperation.` yWliilel have, for purposesof illustration, described.. one. type `of...gunandv adapter,l it obvious. t any reciprocating .guncould be; used,

' and. minor. changes in;- the1 construction f the adspter'ccum'he made wahont depart; ing ,troni the'spirito'fylhis invention.. `I ythere- `forejwish onl ,to belimited-by th e.extent of `the prior' a tlandthe of the claims.

4. fr claim.'-

[L if'Ar'suppnrting .stmcturelfor machine `guns:

extension, a cradle machine g-un'is adapted to be f incuntedior yforwiiizi andrearward movement,

the'.cradlej.comprising a pair of parallel hollow the gun buffer extension provided in the back .2. structure .:fermachine` havingv a .buer extension, comprisingwacradle- 4iny'vvlhich.the'gun is adapted tobe mounted ninfor `forwardiandv rearward .mpi/lement;` the cradle cornprisingy a v'pair of parallel hollow ltubular niembersshock" wardlend'oreach'tube member be operativelyconnected to the extension; comprising, af cradle yforwardand rearwardlmovement, the cradle'compricing a, pair: of parallel longitudinallyextendiagf-hcncwtubum `mariniers particularly adapt it for use in. ,clasefquartersi as are usually found in air- ,L Shock dampeners chine gun during iiring will be absorbed, a sleeve slidably mounted in the rearward end of each tubular member, means to lock each sleeve in each tubular member, a vertical handle carriedY by the free end of each sleeve member, a transverse member connecting the sleeves adjacent to the vertical handles, a back plate attached at its lower end to the transverse member, brackets securing the upper end of the back plate to the from the machine gun to the cradle is minimized,

operating handles attached to the rear ends of the frame members, a transverse plate afllxed to the rear portion of the frame members and a buffer guard secured to the plate.

5. A supporting structure for machineguns having a builer extension, comprising a cradle in which the machine gun is adapted to be mounted for reciprocatory movement, the' cradle comprising apair of interconnected parallel frame members, a dampening device adapted to operatively connect the machine gun with the cradle whereby transmission of recoil shock from the machine gun to the cradle is minimized, operating handles attached to the rear ends of the frame members, transversely extending means connecting said handles and a buffer guard secured to said transversely extending means.

6. A supporting structure for machine guns having a buer extension, comprising; a cradle in which the machine gun is adapted to be to the rear ends of the frame members., a transverse plate affixed to the rear portion of the frame members and a buffer guard secured to Vthe plate.

.'7. A supporting structure for machine guns having a buffer extension, comprising a cradle in which the machine gun is` adapted to be mounted for reciprocatory movement, the cradle v'comprising -a pair of interconnected parallel frame members, a dampening device adapted to operatively connect the forward end of the machine'gun with the cradle whereby transmission of recoil shock-from the machine gun to the cradle is minimized, operating handles attached to the rear ends of the frame members, transversely extending means connecting said handles and a buffer guard secured to said transversely extending means.

8. A supporting structure for machine guns having a buiier extension, comprising, a cradle in which the machine gun is adapted to be mounted for forward and rearward movement,

the cradle comprising a pair of parallel members, l

shock dampeners carried by each of the said members and adapted to be operatively connected to the machine gun whereby the recoil Vof the gun during firing will be absorbed, a pair f of operating handles secured to the rearward ends of the members, a transversely extending member connecting said handles, a backplate attached to the transversely extending members v and a guard cooperating with the gun buffer exmounted for reciprocatory movement, the cradle comprising a pair of interconnected vparallel frame members, a dampening device adapted to operatively connect the forward end of the machine gun with the cradle whereby transmission of recoil shock from the machine gun to the cradle is minimized, operating handles attached tension provided in the backplate.

9. A supporting structure for. machine guns having a buier extension, comprising, a cradle in which the machine gun is adaptedto be mounted for reciprocatory movement, the cradle comprising a pair of interconnected parallel tubular members,` a recoil Adampening deviceV adapted to operatively connect the forward end of the machine gun with the cradle whereby transmission of recoil shock from the machine gun to the cradle is minimized, operating handles vdetaclfiably secured to the rear end of the tubular members, a transverse plate aixed to the rear portion of the tubular members and a buffer guard secured to the plate.

FRANK M. SALISBURY. 

